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THE MUG 10
TEN QUESTIONS THAT UNLOCK REAL STORIES OF SUCCESS.
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AT A GLANCE
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I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
I am able to bring the fluidity, the flexibility, the exuberance and the excitement that I brought to play as a child to my daily life, as a fashion designer.
WHAT IS YOUR
UNIQUE GENIUS?
how did you become interested in this career?
I WAS ALWAYS DESIGNING IN THE BACKGROUND
I didn't start as a designer. I thought when I was growing up that I needed to do something more academic. It seemed fashion was too frivolous, and it didn't occur to me that it could be a career. I went to Columbia for pre-med and I realized I didn't really fit in. My husband said 'why don't you just do what you do? Fashion.' All of a sudden after that, it clicked for me. I went to FIT and at the end of the first project it was just like the light went on and it felt like I was back to being a little girl making clothes.
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IN WHAT WAYS IS THIS JOB
A PERFECT FIT FOR YOU?
I'm creative.
I'm intuitive.
I'm passionate.
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It's just so intuitive and makes so much sense to me. I have boundless energy for it. I could stay up all night doing it because I just love it so much. No day is the same. The process starts with the inspiration. Sometimes the inspiration is just a photograph or it could be just a feeling. Then I start looking for fabrics that go with my inspiration materials. At the same time, I start sketching with my team of designers and making samples. We fit the samples and make our changes. We usually go through about three fittings. We take that final sample and make corrections on the pattern. Then we'll produce the final pieces for brides.
WHAT SKILLS DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT YOUR JOB?
COLLABORATION, TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION
You need to be able to work with others. It doesn't matter if you're a fantastic designer. If you can't communicate and understand where someone else is better at something than you, it will not get done in time.
I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?
FOCUS LESS ON WHAT OTHERS THINK + DO
I wish I knew that the world outside really does want you to succeed. There's always room for more talent. I wish that I didn't focus so much on what other people were doing and just focus doing my personal best. There will always be someone better at something than you and it's not useful to think about how other people are doing.
I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
IN YOUR BODY OF WORK, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
KEEPING IT FRESH
I'm most proud of longevity and keeping it fresh. I love looking back at older collections and feeling really happy with the choice I made. But I'm also excited when I come out with something that people still respond to and get excited about. I design high-end clothing because I love making clothing locally and I love the artistry of garment making.
WHAT'S THE COOLEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
MAKING CLOTHES FOR REAL WOMEN
I love creating fantasy. I love making clothes for real women on one of the most special days of their lives and making them feel special and celebrated. For brides, this is their red carpet. It's great to be part of it and create for those women.
WHAT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB?
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
The most challenging part of my job is all of the things you didn't plan for that go awry. You need to be flexible and figure out how to problem solve. But that's also one of the most fun parts of my job: figuring out a solution to a problem that I didn't expect was going to be a problem at all.
WHAT'S 1 THING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR JOB?
IT TAKES COLLABORATION
People don't know how much collaborating really goes into fashion design. When you see designers you think they're the face of the company. But there are so many people that go into making every collection a success.
WHAT WAS A DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?
LEARNING TO CREATE ANYWHERE
When I had my first daughter, Nova, I was really struggling to get back into the design process and, you know, go back to work. I kept expecting to have this moment where I could like sit down and everything would be quiet. I had this baby that kept waking up and needing me and and I realized that wasn't going to happen. My mother is an artist. When I was growing up, she was painting in our kitchen, or she was painting in her bedroom, looking out the window. And I never really got it until the moment when I had my own baby...and I didn't have the luxury of sitting at a desk or having the right soundtrack on or getting into my creative space. I just had to do it whenever I could. And I realized that was what my mom taught me. That was one of the most important things I ever learned.
INDUSTRY STATISTICS
FASHION DESIGNER
PROJECTED GROWTH
Projected Growth: 2%-3%
Projected Openings: 2,300
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$37,480-$130,870
TOP SKILLS FOR THIS JOB
Design (of Clothes or other)
Active Listening,
Critical Thinking
Collaboration
Time Management
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Indoors
Collaborative
Attention to Detail
Deadline-Driven
Creative
TRAINING + DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
No specific degree required, but many attend fashion design school for Associates or Bachelor's Degree.